Police stun gun usage against 500-pound man ruled justified

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A prosecutor looking into the death of a 500-pound man during a struggle with Connecticut police has found the officers were justified in their actions, including using a stun gun repeatedly.

Police say they were trying to subdue Hartford resident Matthew Russo and get him into an ambulance on Aug. 7 after his mother called authorities to say he needed medical treatment and was hearing voices.

They say the 26-year-old Russo became violent and injured three officers as they struggled to control him. They say four shocks with a stun gun failed to subdue Russo but he eventually stopped struggling and then stopped breathing.

Attempts to revive him failed.

Russo's death was ruled a homicide, prompting the special investigation by Waterbury state's attorney Maureen Platt, who released her report Thursday.